7. Reduction of losses. recycling
At the end of the growing season a considerable proportion of the minerals
of the leaves is translocated to perennial plant parts before the leaves are
shed (e.g. 50% of the P reserves [40]). This internal circulation is not subject
to losses due to volatilization and fire. But even nutrients from litter
deposition are not as easily lost as in the case of a herb layer, due to the
presence of a permanent root system.